Dancing toy.



No. 845,985. PATENTED MAR. 5, 1907 H. .W. THORNTON.

DANCING TOY.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 6,1906.

1i. mar/atom,

HARRY WILLIAM THORNTON, or

WINONA, MINNESOTA, AS SIGNOR TO EDWARD L. WALLWORK AND GEORGE R. THORNTON, OF CHICAGO,

ILLINOIS.

DANCING TOY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 5, 1907.

Application filed August 6,1906. Serial No. 329,450.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY WILLIAM THORNTON, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Winona, in the county of Winona and State of Minnesota, have invented a new and useful Dancing Toy, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in dancing toys.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of dancing toys and to provide a simple and efiicient one having leg-joints corres onding in operation to those of the human gure and adapted to closely resemble the movements of a person in clog-dancing.

' With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction and novel combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and pointed out in the claims hereto ap ended, it being understood that various c anges in the form, proportion, size, and minor details of construction within the scope of the claims may beresorted to without departing from the s irit or sacrificing any of the advantages of t e invention.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a erspective view of a dancing toy co'nstructe' in accordance with this invention and shown in osition for use. Fig. 2 is a side elevation o the same, one of the feet being in section. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the same, one of the feet being also in section.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawing. a

1 designates a dancing figure provided with a body portion 2, havinga socket 3 at its rear edge for the reception of a rod or handle 4, which has one end ta ered and detachably fitted in the said soc et. The figure, which may be constructed of any suitable material, is rovided with legs comosed of upper and ower sections or members 5 and 6. The upper sections or members 5 of the legs are secured to the body 2 at opposite sides of the lower end thereof by means of a transverse pivot 7, which permits the legs to swing bodily backwardly and forwardly from a vertical position. The lower end of the up er section 5 is reduced to form a tongue 8, which is fitted in a slotor bifurcation 9 of the upper end of thelower section horizontal position in or member 6 of the legs, and the reduced portion or ton ue 8 is secured in the said slot or bifurcationiy means of a transverse ivot or pin 10. The reduced lower end 0 the u per section or member forms opposite slibulders 11, which are inclined downwardly and forwardly, asclearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, and which are arranged to be engaged by the upper edges 12 of the lower section or member 6, whereby the swinging or pivotal movement of the up er and lower sections on each other is limite edge of the lower section or member 6 engages the front ortion of the inclined shoulders 11 when t e leg sections or members are in substantial alinement, and the rear corners of the upper end of the lower section or member 6 are rounded at 13, which permits the leg to bend rearward] in a manner similar to the human leg. V\- en the lower section or member 6 is in en agement with the inclined lower shoulder of t e upper member or section 5, the two members or sections are arranged at a very slight an le to each other, as shown in Fig. 2 of the rawing, so that an upward pressure or blow on the lower I end of the legs will always tend to bow or bend the same at the knee-joints.

The lower ends 14 of the legs are pivoted by pins orrivets 15 in slots 16 of feet 17, consisting of oblong blocks. The lower sections or members 6 of the legs are pivoted adjacent to the rear end walls of the slots 16, so as to limit the downward swing of the feet from a a manner similar to the ankle-joint of the human figure. The front edges of the" lower sections of the legs are spaced sufficiently from the front walls of The upper the slots 16 to permit a comparatively free upward swing of the feet. The lower faces of the feet are shaped to form rear heel portions and are convexly curved in advance of the same.

The upper portion of the we is shaped into a head, and arms 18 are pivoted to the body at the shoulder portions thereof. The figure may be ornamented and shaped to present the desired appearance and to represent various characters, and it is operated by means of a vibratory platform 19, consisting of a thin board having a circular outer portion 20. The innerend of the board is placed upon a chair or other seat body of the figupon which the operator sits, as clearly 1 illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawing, andthe I handle or stick of the figure isbeld in ,the left hand, with its legs loosely resting upon the vibratory platform, which is struck with the right hand, the blow causing the platform to vibrate and strike the feet of'the figure. As the movements permitted by the joints of the legs of the dancing'figure are limited as in the human figure, the toy when operated will closely resemble the movements of a person in a clog-dance, andby holding the figure in slightlydifferent positions with relation to the vibratory platform the step may be changed.

The toy is easily operated and does not require an ex erieneed operator to secure amusing resu ts, as the joints of the legs permit the latter to swing only backward] y and forwardly and prevent any lateral oscillation of the legs or the members thereof.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is y 1. In a dancing toy, the combination with a vibratory platform, of a figure consisting of a body portion, upper leg mcmberspivoted to the body portion to swing backwardly and forwardly, lower leg members pivoted to the upper leg members, the pivots connecting the said members being arranged transversely of the figure, and the said members being provided with abutting faces engaging each other when the leg members are in substane45,9a5 I tial alinement and limiting the forward swing of the lower members, and feet provided with openings to receive the lower member and pivoted to the same, the rear walls of the openings being arranged to engage the lower members for limiting the downward swing of the feet, and a handle-rod. connected with the figure.

2. In a dancing toy, the combination with.

a vibratory platform, of a figure consisting of a bodyportion, upper leg members pivoted I a to the body portion to swing backwardly and forwardly, lower leg members pivoted to the upper leg members, the pivots connecting such members being arranged transversely, and the said members being provided with means for limiting the forward swing or movement of the members on each other at the knee-joint when the said members-are in substantial alinement, and feet pivoted to the lower members and provided with means 

